Free speech protection

That' s how some people have characterized the Jan. 21 ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court that overturned much of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance act. Let's look at it.

As a citizen, you still have a right to stand on a street corner and speak on behalf of, or against, a candidate who seeks public office.

A corporation, with its new First Amendment rights, can hire a thousand people to stand on street corners to speak against the candidate you favor (think full-page newspaper ads and television commercials).

Sure, you still have your citizen's one voice and one vote, but a corporation armed with the same free speech protection accorded a living person can wield a thousand times more power than you in future elections.

Someday, I think, people will see the wisdom of enacting a law to provide for the public financing of elections so that all candidates have an equal opportunity to have their messages heard and judged.